Traction-engine



(No Model.)

M. W. PETERS.

TRAGTION ENGINE.

No. 363,415. Patented May 24, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PaTlENT Ormea.

MARCUS IV. PETERS, OF LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK.

TRAcTIoN-NGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 363,415, dated May 24, 1887 Application filed September 252, 1886. Serial No. 214,244. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, MARcUs W. Piarnnsof Lafayette, county of Onondaga, in the State of New York,a citizen of the United Sta tes, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines, of which the follow'ng is a specification, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation with side traction-Wheels removed; Fig. 2, a sectional View taken on line Fig. l; and Fig. 3, a section taken on line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

This invention relates to traction engines in which the propelling-power isV transmitted from the rear axle to the front one, and I intend by it to simplify the construetionof the power generating and transmitting mechanism, and also the fifth-wheel construction; and my invention relates more especially to these points.

It is constructed as follows: A represents an ordinary Cornish boiler. B is the rear axle. C is the front axle. D is the drivingshaft provided with the fiy-Wheel land pinion 2. This pinion 2 meshes with the gear 3,which is provided with the pinion 4, which meshes with the gear 5, and this gear meshes with the differential gear 6. These several gears and pinions form a train of gears to transmit the power to the axle, and they are mounted upon the boiler, in substantially a vertical line, in any ordinary manner. This differential gear consists of two parts-a central geared pulley, 7, fitting loosely upon the axle B, a flange, 8, provided with teeth or studs which engage with thc body of the pulley 7, in any ordinary manner, and this flange-is securely keyed to the axle.

E, F, G, and H are the wheels, of which I show two, F and H, secured to their respective axles, the others being loose. Between the gear 6 and the wheel E, I place a ianged sleeve, 9, and provide the outer end thereof with a clutch, 10, which engages with a like construction upon the inner end of the hub of the wheel. This sleeve is loose upon the axle, and the flange may engage differentially with the pulley 7, or not, as may be desired. If it does not so engage, then the inner face ofthis ange is smooth. l

The axle B is mounted in the hangers 12, upon the under side of the boiler. Centrally under the boiler I suspend, in suitable hangers, the transmitting-shaft 13, and this shaft is rotated by the bevel-gears '14, one of Which is secured upon the axle and the other upon the shaft. Upon this shaft,and under the front end of the boiler, I mount one side of the rectangular yoke 15, the shaft fitting loosely through a hub upon that end bar of the yoke, while the other hub upon the other end of the frame is mounted in the hanger 16,secured to the boiler, while the rear hub is mounted in a like hanger,17, both loosely. Upon this shaft, and within the rear end of the yoke, I secure the beveled pinion 18.

Upon the axle C,I place Vthe loose sleeve 19, provided with trunnions 20 21, upon opposite sides, and hold one end thereof in place by a collar and set-screw, as shown. The other end of the sleeve abuts against the differential gear 22, which is like 6, except that the loose pulley is beveled on its gear-face. Between this gear 22 and the Wheel G, I place a flanged sleeve, 23, constructed like the sleeve 9, and connected to the hub of this wheel by'a clutch- -oint. J The ends of the trunnions 20 21 are mounted, respectively, in the upper and lower bars of the yoke 15 and the sleeve 19, and its truunions so mounted form and constitute the kingboli', Upon these tru unions 20 21, and Within the yoke, I mount loosely the bevel-gears 24,

which mesh with the pinion 18 and the differential gear 22, aud these gears and pinion with this differential gear constitute the mechanism to rotate the axle C, and they also, in combination' with the king-bolt, constitute the fifthwheel mechanism.

Beneath the rear end of the boiler I suspend my steering mechanism, consisting of a shaft,

25, rotated by aworm-gear, and chains 26, rcversely coiled or wound upon the shaft, and as to their front ends loosely connected to the front axle by rings around the axle,which rings are prevented from slipping by suitable collars.

It will be observed that my king-boltmechanism permits the front wheels and axle to be ICO easily operated in turning curves, the trunnions acting as the pivots; also, that the yokev being suspended longitudinally in loose bearings it (the yoke) can oscillate with the axle, and thus overcome all inequalites and depressions in the roadway without disturbing the equilibrium of the front end of the boiler, and that this yoke-oscillation permits ofthe rocking of the rear end of the boiler withou affecting the front axle and wheels. f

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isw

1. In a traction-engine, the driving or propelling mechanism, consisting in the combination of a drive-shaft, a train of gears and pinions, a differential gear upon the rear axle, a bevel-gear keyed to said rear axle, and a transmitting-shaft provided with beveled pinions upon its opposite ends, one of said pinions meshing with said bevel-wheel on the rear axle and the other meshing with two bevel-gears operating within a yoke suspended beneath the boiler, said two bevel-gears meshing with a bevel-wheel keyed to the front axle, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth. 2. In a traction engine, the combination of the bevelgears 14, situated as described, the transmitting-shaft, the beveled pinion 18, and the bevelgears 24, meshing with abevel-wheel keyed to the front axle, all arranged to operate for the purposesubstantially as described. 3. In atraction-engine,a transmitting shaft suspended horizontally beneath the center of the boiler and provided with beveled pinions upon its oppositeends, one of said pinions meshing with a bevel-wheel keyed to the rear axle and the other meshing with two bevelgears operating horizontally above and below the front axle, substantially as set. forth.

. 4. A king-bolt mechanism consisting in the combination of a rectangular yoke suspended beneath the boiler by suitable hangers' and supporting the front axle, and asleeve loosely mounted upon said axle and provided with trunnions which have their bearings 1n said yoke above and below the longitudinal center ofthe axle, said trunnions having gears loosely mounted upon them, substantially as descrlbed.

5. A ifth-wheel mechanism consistmg 1n the combination of a stationary rectangular yoke suspended so as to encircle the front axle, a sleeve loosely mounted upon said axle, provided with vertical ltrunnions having their bearings in the yoke, gears loosely mounted upon said trunnions and operating hor1zontally iwithin the yoke, a pinion upon the end of a transmitting-shaft, and a bevel gear-wheel keyed on the front axle, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

6. In a tractionvengine, the front-axlerotating mechanism, consisting in the combina tion of 4a rectangular yoke suspended beneath the longitudinal center of the boiler and encircling the front axle, gears horizontally mounted within the yoke above and below the axle, an upright bevel-wheel keyed upon the axle and meshing with said bevel-gears, and a beveled pinion mounted upon a transmittingshaft, and also meshing with said bevelgears, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

7. In a tractionseugine, the yoke 15, the hangers 16 17, the bevel-wheel 22, the bevelgears 24, and the beveled pinion 18, in comblnation with the,transmitting-shaft suspended horizontally below the boiler, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of September, 1886.

MARCUS W. PETERS.

In presence of- MINNIE E. PETERS, F. W. BARKER. 

